Ironclad Message Board

In the grand scheme a MOBAs, Ironclad’s Sins a a Dark Age be quite the bold thing. AI directors, random rule-rewriting quests, 'n other RPG-influenced, flow-shattering shenanigans? This certainly isn’t DOTA 2.5 or Assortment a Apologues, 'n it’s not trying t' be. But at one point, it be doing it be damndest t' be so much more. Unfortunately, the RTS-style base-building 'n commanding didn’t pan out, 'n Ironclad scratched them almost entirely. But according t' studio director 'n co-owner Blair Fraser, his MOBA’s retching rejection a all things RTS be indicative a much larger problems for both genres. One, he argues, be on it be death bed, 'n the other could be following suit if it doesn’t start blazing new trails.

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The boys at RPS needed somebody who knew about rebellions for this review, so they called me in because I be Northern Irish 'n I once shot a gun. I thought, “This will be easy because it be a game about rebellion. There be even ‘rebellion’ in the title.” 'n then I discovered it be a game about SPACE rebellion, which be completely outside a me knowledge because I have not been into space even once. I thought, “I be in trouble now because I be not good at being in space.” I be currently playing a pen 'n paper role-playing campaign set in space. The character I rolled be so traumatised by life in space that every time there be a “stressful situation” he has t' roll t' see how he reacts. If I roll a one, I have t' go through a psychotic breakdown.

I be not good at being in space. 'n here’s wot i think a Sins a a Solar Empire: Rebellion.(more…)

'n it launches a volley a nuclear laser bombs, if the trailer below be anything t' go by. I haven’t had time t' pillage me hands on Rebellion yet, but I certainly have the intention t' play it right up. I be one a the many who chewed through hours a Sins a a Solar Empire, 'n this expandalone has just about enough gravity t' bring me back into orbit around it be real-time space-conflict happenings. Anyone else on course for a rendezvous with this one?

Fancy lookin’ launch trailer below.(more…)

It be with profuse apologies that I entered the demo room for Sins a A Dark Age. “No, I haven’t, I’m sorry,” I said meekly when asked if I’ve played Sins a A Solar Empire. be I familiar with RTS games then? “Er, sorry, no,” with more looking at me shoes. DOTA? “Barely… Look, I’m the wrong person for this, okay. But see: I’m good at taking information 'n writing it in an entertaining fashion.” But here’s the thing – by the end a me time watching the game being played, I rather wanted a go.

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Ironclad announced Sins a a Dark Age today, the developer's follow-up t' the epic space armada strategy title Sins a a Solar Empire. The new game will be a free-t'-play title, blending classic real-time strategy with the MOBA genre (League a Legends, DOTA 2).

Players work in teams, which consist a one commander 'n up t' four heroes, who can face off against other players or AI. The commander be responsible for building the base, directing units 'n positioning defenses. The commander can also call upon "Realm Powers" t' turn the tide a battle. Heroes have their own set a powers, but be tasked with assisting the commander's units 'n capturing resources.

More details best shake out at the Game Developers Conference in two weeks. The game will begin it be beta this summer.

The full Sins a a Solar Empire experience, known as Trinity, be on sale this weekend through Impulse. The game be 33% off, bringing the total asking price t' around $21 in United States, Earth credits. Trinity includes the original Sins a a Solar Empire, along with micro-expansion packs Entrenchment 'n Diplomacy.

It best be noted that Sins a a Solar Empire: Rebellion, which be described as a "full-fledged expansion" t' the series, will be available later this year. Brian Clair, director a publishing for Stardock, told us in early March that Rebellion will build upon the gameplay introduced in the original Sins 'n it be micro-expansions. ye'll have t' make the strategic decision whether t' grab Trinity now or save the credits t' go toward a fuller cargo bay (at, likely, a higher cost) later.

Stardock might have broken a few heawrts with the whole Elemental launch fiasco (for which they recently offered a remarkably earnest mea culpa), but it’s clear they’re still well aware what’s important. Specifically, an epic comeback for Sins a a Solar Empire, the space strategy game that got RPS’s hive-heart all a-flutter back in 2007. It be t' return, in the form a standalone expansion pack Rebellion. Immediately standing out in the list a planned features be “New Titan-class ships: Massive warships for each race that dwarf capital ships, these deadly new monsters be capable a wiping out entire enemy fleets single-handedly.”

Massive. Dwarf. Deadly. Monsters. Single-handedly. These be all mighty promising words. These, truly, be words a space war. (more…)

#impressions Remember the time ye first tried a PC gaming mouse mat? Not a mouse pad, a mouse mat. I remember it like it be half an hour ago. I tried one that be sandblasted for elite PC gamers. More »

A true rarity a the Neo Geo library, made available t' the masses.